Hegseth attends UT game, fueling speculation about his Tennessee political future
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth raised eyebrows among local politicos when he attended Saturday's Tennessee-Alabama game in Knoxville, clad in UT orange and a tri-star belt buckle.
Why it matters: U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn could soon be appointing her own replacement to the Senate if she wins the gubernatorial election next month.
- Hegseth's appearance at Neyland Stadium led some insiders to connect the dots that he could be a wild card pick for Blackburn's appointment.
State of play: It's not unusual for a president to shake up their cabinet following a midterm election.
- The Hill reported on Monday that Senate Democrats are quietly floating Hegseth's ouster as Pentagon chief following the election.
- After the election, a showdown over the possible impeachment of Hegseth is looming, Axios' Josephine Walker reported last month.
Zoom out: Should Blackburn win the governor's race, she says she will continue to serve in the Senate until she's inaugurated as governor in January. That means Blackburn would appoint her own interim replacement.
- U.S. Reps. Tim Burchett and Chuck Fleischmann along with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs have been viewed as top contenders.
- Hegseth moved to the Goodlettsville area outside of Nashville in 2022.
Reality check: Hegseth has a job, and Trump has given no indication a change is imminent. In August, Trump said reporting suggesting friction between he and Hegseth was "treasonous."
- Attending a UT game is a typical thing for a Tennessee politician to do. Even though he was decked out like a hardcore Vols fan, Hegseth's attendance could have been simply about the football.
- He and his family have attended UT games in the past.
What they're saying: "This is not true," chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell tells Axios. "Secretary Hegseth's singular focus is leading the War Department. All other speculation is foolish."
The bottom line: The possible Senate appointment added a layer of intrigue to the governor's race, and Hegseth's relocation to Tennessee will put his name high on the list for vacant elected offices.